Swivel search system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing an integrated search is provided. An interface is provided that allows users to search and select any data related to a searchable term. Searchable terms may comprise titles of content, actors, and tags. Upon receiving results from the initial search, the user progresses through the initial search by selecting a result from the initial search and conducting a further search of that selection. The search may progress through many layers of searching in order to find information useful to the user and the user may perform actions based upon results of the search. The search implements a display with two columns, the first column displaying selectable data, and the second column displaying results to the selected data. The search is further customizable based upon a privacy level selected by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for operating an electronic search system, the method comprising:
 performing a search based on a received search term; 
 determining, using processing circuitry, whether a privacy policy opt-in indication was received prior to the receiving of the search term, the privacy policy opt-in being a consent for a service provider to store private information of a user; 
 in response to determining that the privacy policy opt-in indication was received, using full functionality of the electronic search system to filter results of the search based on the private information of the user; 
 in response to determining that the privacy policy opt-in indication was not received, using limited functionality of the electronic search system so that results of the search are not modified based on the private information of the user; and 
 transmitting for display, using transmission circuitry, the results of the search. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting for display the results of the search in a first navigation list in a first area on a screen, the first navigation list comprising at least some of the results of the search as a first plurality of selectable terms; 
 placing a cursor to highlight a current selectable term in the first navigation list in the first area of the screen, the current selectable term corresponding to a result in the results of the search, and 
 transmitting for display a second navigation list in a second area on the screen, the second navigation list comprising a second plurality of selectable terms or actions based upon the current selectable term of the first navigation list, the second area being different from the first area. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the search is a first search, the method further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one of the selectable terms in the second navigation list; 
 in response to receiving the selection of one of the selectable terms in the second navigation list, performing a second search based on the selected term from the second navigation list; and 
 transmitting for display results of the second search comprising a third navigation list of selectable terms in a third area of the screen and a fourth navigation list of selectable terms or actions in a fourth area of the screen. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the search is a first search, the method further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one of the selectable terms in a previously displayed navigation list; 
 performing a second search based on the selected term if the selected term in the previously displayed navigation list is a searchable term; and 
 transmitting for display results of the second search comprising a current navigation list in one area of selectable terms based upon the selected search term in the previously displayed navigation list, wherein a current selectable term is highlighted, and a subsequent navigation list in another area of selectable terms or actions based upon the current selectable term of the current navigation list. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising receiving a selection of one of the selectable terms or actions, and, if the selected one of the selectable terms or actions is an action, initiating performance of the selected action. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising initiating performance of the selected action, by:
 scheduling a recording of an upcoming showing of the content if the selected action indicates recording content; and 
 initiating a download of the content if the selected action indicates downloading content. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first navigation list comprises any one or more of a tag, a program title, or credits. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the results of the search include or exclude related data or a related category of data. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the results of the search comprise results that are allowed according to a privacy level selected by the user. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving a selection of the privacy level. 
     
     
       11. A system for operating an electronic search system, the system comprising:
 a storage device; and 
 control circuitry configured to:
 perform a search based on a received search term; 
 determine, using processing circuitry, whether a privacy policy opt-in indication was received prior to the receiving of the search term, the privacy policy opt-in being a consent for a service provider to store private information of a user; 
 in response to determining that the privacy policy opt-in indication was received, use full functionality of the electronic search system to filter results of the search based on the private information of the user; 
 in response to determining that the privacy policy opt-in indication was not received, use limited functionality of the electronic search system so that results of the search are not modified based on the private information of the user; and 
 transmit for display, using transmission circuitry, the results of the search. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
 transmit for display the results of the search in a first navigation list in a first area on a screen, the first navigation list comprising at least some of the results of the search as a first plurality of selectable terms; 
 place a cursor to highlight a current selectable term in the first navigation list in the first area of the screen, the current selectable term corresponding to a result in the results of the search, and 
 transmit for display a second navigation list in a second area on the screen, the second navigation list comprising a second plurality of selectable terms or actions based upon the current selectable term of the first navigation list, the second area being different from the first area. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the search is a first search, the control circuitry further configured to:
 receive a selection of one of the selectable terms in the second navigation list; 
 in response to receiving the selection of one of the selectable terms in the second navigation list, perform a second search based on the selected term from the second navigation list; and 
 transmit for display results of the second search comprising a third navigation list of selectable terms in a third area of the screen and a fourth navigation list of selectable terms or actions in a fourth area of the screen. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the search is a first search, the control circuitry further configured to:
 receive a selection of one of the selectable terms in a previously displayed navigation list; 
 perform a second search based on the selected term if the selected term in the previously displayed navigation list is a searchable term; and 
 transmit for display results of the second search comprising a current navigation list in one area of selectable terms based upon the selected search term in the previously displayed navigation list, wherein a current selectable term is highlighted, and a subsequent navigation list in another area of selectable terms or actions based upon the current selectable term of the current navigation list. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , the control circuitry further configured to receive a selection of one of the selectable terms or actions, and, if the selected one of the selectable terms or actions is an action, initiate performance of the selected action. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , the control circuitry further configured to initiate performance of the selected action, by:
 scheduling a recording of an upcoming showing of the content if the selected action indicates recording content; and 
 initiating a download of the content if the selected action indicates downloading content. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first navigation list comprises any one or more of a tag, a program title, or credits. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the results of the search include or exclude related data or a related category of data. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the results of the search comprise results that are allowed according to a privacy level selected by the user. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , the control circuitry further configured to receive a selection of the privacy level.